Taxi Driver Online

Taxi driver stripped of licence after allegedly punching customer in fare dispute

A TAXI driver in Bolton has been stripped of his licence after allegedly punching a passenger who fell and broke his leg in a fare dispute. Bolton Council deemed the private hire driver to no longer be a "fit and proper" person at a licensing committee meeting.

The incident which led to the licence revocation took place in Belmont Road, Sharples, on March 8 at about 2am. The council ruled that the driver did assault the customer — despite police having never brought charges.

An argument over a fare had broken out between the driver and three passengers, which led to two of them getting out of the car. One man was still in the vehicle, however, when the taxi drove away. A member of the licensing committee said the passenger jumped out of the car while it was still moving, which is when the driver is accused of alighting from the vehicle and attacking him.

Police said a 49-year-old man was arrested in connection with the incident but was released without charge.

A report from the licensing committee said: "In coming to its decision the committee was mindful of its duty to protect the public and the complaint of misconduct related to a serious assault by a private hire driver on a customer while acting as a taxi driver. "Following consideration of all the evidence the committee found that on the balance of probabilities the driver did assault the customer causing him to fall and suffer serious injury to his leg. "Drivers are placed in a position of trust and have a duty to conduct themselves in a professional manner at all times and the driver concerned should not have retaliated with violence when a dispute over a fare had ensued."

A police spokesman said: "An assault took place at 2am on Sunday, March 8 in Belmont Road, Sharples where the passenger was punched in the face and fell over and broke his leg. "A 49-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of a section 20 assault but was later released without charge."

The committee did not accept the driver’s explanation that he was acting in self defence and found that even if the customer had provoked the driver, he should not have acted in a violent manner. A committee source said: "Our main consideration is the safety of the people of Bolton using taxis. "We consider whether we would want somebody to get into that vehicle with the driver and run the risk of having problems."

The driver, his representative and a witness attended the town hall meeting on May 12.

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IDFIMH

So drivers aren't allowed to defend themselves because the passenger wouldn't be safe.

I think with good UNION representation this Driver would not be in the poop he is still it is Bolton and no doubt hes a fekking scab ..................so fekk him

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All posts by this contributor are made in a strictly personal capacity

I AM PROUD TO BE A CITIZEN NOBODY'S SUBJECT http://www.republic.org.u

F88K EM ALL WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND

BOOZE BOOZE BOOZE

The acting in self defense argument was probably lost because the passenger got out of the vehicle and only after that did the driver then stop the car and assault the passenger. He was not under attack whilst he was in the car and could have driven away.

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Grandad,

Point taken Gramps

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All posts by this contributor are made in a strictly personal capacity

I AM PROUD TO BE A CITIZEN NOBODY'S SUBJECT http://www.republic.org.u

F88K EM ALL WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND

BOOZE BOOZE BOOZE

It was the "Our main consideration is the safety of the people of Bolton using taxis."

and not

"Our main consideration is the safety of TAXI DRIVERS"

There's more assaults on drivers than punters but the emphasis seems to be on making sure those punters are safe and sod the drivers.

I think he has the right to appeal

So there are and the question is "what are YOU doing about it ?" answers on a pin head

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All posts by this contributor are made in a strictly personal capacity

I AM PROUD TO BE A CITIZEN NOBODY'S SUBJECT http://www.republic.org.u

F88K EM ALL WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND

BOOZE BOOZE BOOZE

I am sure that everyone would like to know.....have You ever run your own business??..Have you ever driven a hackney..
Have you ever driven P/H..

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Justice for the 96. It has only taken 27 years...........repeat the same lies for 27 years and the truth sounds strange to people!

They are indeed, but clearly the committee didn't believe the fella.

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IDFIMH

The fact that he was "defending" himself from someone who was no threat at the time may have swung it for the Council.

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Grandad,